AN: Thanks to all who have followed and favorited this story. Thanks to my reviewers- Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 and twilight80.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10

The night was better, thank heavens!

They headed to the beach where there was a bonfire. Apparently it was a monthly thing for the pack, that's what they called their gang of friends.

Honestly, Neona felt a part of it. There was Kim, Claire, Dane, Quil apart from Mia, Embry and Chief whom she knew already. The others were just as friendly and welcoming except for one guy who seemed inordinately upset. Good thing: he was eye candy too although a little too muscly for Neo's taste. Actually, he was just plain scary, Paul his name was.

It was nice and warm around the fire and once the introductions were made the guys headed out of the group to play ball while the girls rounded up to chat.

Neo could not keep her eyes away from Jacob. The way his muscles moved, the expressions on his face, his laughter, the light in his eyes, his interactions with the other men, their camaraderie. It was awe inspiring.

"Ogling our Chief, are you, girl?" Emily nudged her playfully with her hip as she sat down on the log beside her.

Neo just sighed. No use lying when she had been eye fucking him so blatantly.

"What's on your mind?"

"Why do you think there is something on my mind?"

"Because neither of you seem to be working on this attraction towards each other." She said shrugging.

Neo offered a shrug of her own.

"Do you want to?"

When she didn't reply, Emily lifted her chin with her shapely fingers and forced her to meet her eyes and asked again," do. you. want. to."

Neo blushed as she ducked her head and nodded.

Emily chuckled and shook her head. "Well know this, he wants it too. It's all he can think about, all he can talk about."

Neo's head snapped up. "How do you know? Did he talk to you?" She asked eagerly.

"No but the guys talk. What's holding you back? Because you must have given him a sign that you don't want things to proceed and that is the only thing preventing him from walking with you into the sunset."

Neo snorted. He didn't seem the sunset kind. She wouldn't mind either version though.

"So?" Emily prodded.

"It's just…He dated Carol first. She's my big sister and she's interested in him. How can I overlook that?" She asked helplessly.

"Does it look like he's interested in Carol?" Emily asked motioning with her head toward the boys.

Neo looked up and her jaw slacked when she saw Carol wearing next to nothing again and almost strutting in front of Chief and he didn't even spare her a glance. Some other boys did appreciate the view though.

But as if sensing her stare he looked at her and their gazes locked. Intense.

Heat rose from her belly moving over to the roots of her hair but she could not look away!

"Well?"

"No, he doesn't seem to care. In fact he's staring right at me." She broke their connection then to cast a confused glance at Emily.

"Exactly. He wouldn't care if she spread eagled right in front of him because she's not it for him." When Neo looked unconvinced Emily sighed but continued.

"He cares about you, Neona. You rock his world. You make him catch his breath. You are who he craves and misses when he doesn't see you, can't be with you. You mean more to him than you know, Neona." Emily finished of softly, placing a hand on her back.

Neo was horrified to feel the wetness running down her cheeks. All the emotions, the frustration, agitation, anger she had piled up inside of her came rushing or rather gushing out.

"What's wrong?"

Big, warm hands were on her knees and then one cupped her chin and lifted her face.

Her eyes met his warm brown irises marred with worry and she couldn't hold it in any more.

She flung her arms around him, buried her face in the crook of his neck and cried; cried until she felt all the negativity drained out of her, cried until she felt the burden of denial lift off her shoulders, until her throat was sore and her eyes were puffy and red, snot all over her face.

"Oh God! I'm pathetic! I put all my booger on you!"

She drew apart from him, keeping her head down and withdrew her handkerchief from her jeans' pocket and wiped at his neck trying to get all the moisture sucked in before wiping her face and blowing into it before pocketing it back.

Once she felt her face was snot free and slightly better, she lifted her head to meet his gaze.

The look of pure concern, worry and something so intense she was afraid to identify it made her gasp quietly.

"You are so beautiful." He said breathily.

"Yeah, I look super hot after creaming my face with snot." She said with a straight face and Chief threw his head back and laughed, a full bellied, gum revealing laugh.

Wow, his gums were so pink and soft.

"You look super duper hot all the time, sweetheart." He looked at her adoringly, yes adoringly, that's a look, making her want to rip off her panties and offer herself to him.

"See…hotness is your middle name." He whispered huskily and to her embarrassment she moaned. Yep, a full throaty moan.

"Keep doing that and we may spend the night here." He pushed her against a tree and she blinked.

She was pushed against a tree. She looked around and there were trees around her. She was in the forest. Frowning, she looked at Chief.

"I carried you here when you cried; didn't think you would appreciate being the center of attraction back there." He motioned with his head behind her and she turned to see the bonfire going on in full swing.

She nodded, too overwhelmed to answer in words.

"Chief, I…"

"Shhh" he put a finger to her lips and they trembled. "Let me ask you something and you answer, Ok? Only in yes or no. OK?"

She nodded and one of his eyebrows went up.

"Yes" she rolled her eyes and was awarded with a beaming smile.

"Do you like me?"

"Yes" No brainer.

"Do you think about me?"

"Yes" more than I should.

"Do you miss me?"

"Yes" every single moment it seems.

"Do you think someone like me is worthy of you?"

"Yes" she hesitated, more like I'm not worthy of you. She wanted to tell him.

"Would it be so bad if we were together?" He whispered and her core trembled.

"No" she whispered back.

"Would it be horrible to spend some time with me? Or a lot?" He added cheekily.

"No" she shook her head to emphasize her point.

"Would you be repulsed if I held your hand?" he asked while entwining their fingers.

"No" her fingers tightened around his.

"Would you push me away if I held you tight?" He whispered in her ear as he pulled her into his chest.

"No" she sighed and inhaled his scent.

"Would you slap me if I kissed you?" He pulled away from her to gaze into her eyes but she felt the intensity all the way to her soul.

"No" she whispered as her eyes wandered to his lips while she licked her own.

And then he was pulling her into his arms once again as he crashed his lips to her. Exploring, imploring. Lips, teeth and tongue fighting for dominance but giving in at the same time. And then they were smiling at the same time…until a flash made them blink.

Thoughts please!